Construction of functional neuronal circuitry in the olfactory bulb

Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2014 Nov:35:180-8. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2014.07.012. Epub 2014 Jul 30.

Abstract

Recent studies using molecular genetics, electrophysiology, in vivo imaging, and behavioral analyses have elucidated detailed connectivity and function of the mammalian olfactory circuits. The olfactory bulb is the first relay station of olfactory perception in the brain, but it is more than a simple relay: olfactory information is dynamically tuned by local olfactory bulb circuits and converted to spatiotemporal neural code for higher-order information processing. Because the olfactory bulb processes ∼1000 discrete input channels from different odorant receptors, it serves as a good model to study neuronal wiring specificity, from both functional and developmental aspects. This review summarizes our current understanding of the olfactory bulb circuitry from functional standpoint and discusses important future studies with particular focus on its development and plasticity.

Keywords: Development; Glomerulus; Lateral inhibition; Olfactory bulb; Plasticity; Temporal coding.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Models, Neurological*
  • Nerve Net / anatomy & histology
  • Nerve Net / cytology
  • Nerve Net / physiology*
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Odorants
  • Olfactory Bulb / anatomy & histology
  • Olfactory Bulb / cytology
  • Olfactory Bulb / physiology*
  • Olfactory Pathways / anatomy & histology
  • Olfactory Pathways / cytology
  • Olfactory Pathways / physiology
  • Smell